We all have that one secret obsession. That favorite cult 80s movie, that musical artist we discovered before their rise to fame, or that one underground song we feel speaks directly to us. These media obsessions can feel very intimate and are often deeply cherished by consumers, as they provide much-needed solace and comfort to their audience. With the rise of niche obsessions also comes a growing sense of entitlement to maintain personal ownership over that specific and special “thing” they love. That pesky habit of greed that parents strive to eliminate from their children’s behavior has started to manifest in adult behavior as well; it is known as “gatekeeping.” 

Gatekeeping is a phenomenon that only recently garnered itself a title. The rise of social media, specifically with the rise of TikTok, has created a steady increase in this behavior, where an individual finds something they enjoy or grow attached to–whether it be a television show, a musician, or even a book–and feel that they should have personal authority over that specific work. This individual often feels frustration and anger when they see that their treasured piece of media has gone viral or garnered popularity and attention outside of their own. There is a strange sense of pride we feel when we discover something “first,” or before the rest of the world. When we find a work that we resonate with, it can be incredibly exciting and intimate to feel that we know a secret the rest of the world isn’t in on quite yet. When or if this resonating work does go viral on the internet, many feel the urge to show “proof ” that: I was here first! Band t-shirts, CDs, and vinyl all become critical evidence that many use to prove their status as “true” fans, not the “fake” fans who emerged from the woodwork after their favorite artist or movie went viral. There is an unspoken expectation that a certain amount of proof must be shown to solidify an individual’s place as an authentic fan of something. 

This rising theme can be seen all over the internet, especially in a recent trend where individuals will approach unsuspecting people who are wearing a specific band t-shirt and ask them to “name three songs” by the band that they are wearing; if they fall short, they are often put on blast and labeled as a “fake fan.” But why is this behavior so common? Why do we do this?

I know I have been on both sides of the gatekeeping spectrum, even before social media was on the rise. During the 2012 dystopian book-to-movie adaptation craze when films such as The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner were adapted for the screen, I recall many children were only considered true fans if they had also read the book prior to the global success of the film adaptations. Gatekeeping has been a practice that has existed since pop culture became...well, popular culture. And many of us have been participants, whether we are conscious of it or not. 

More recently, I remember when HBO announced that they would be doing a television adaptation of the video game The Last of Us. I was immediately so worried about what would come when one of my favorite stories would suddenly become a mega-hit. I wondered if newer fans would understand the intricacies of the story. Would they appreciate it? I felt a sense of fear at the notion of the viewership of something I had loved for so long suddenly quadrupling in size and popularity overnight. There is nothing better than when an external source of personal entertainment or pleasure feels like an intimate relationship, where there is no social media or internet uproar to remind you that you are just one of the millions who enjoy this specific thing. When something becomes popular, we feel insignificant, as if our devotion to this specific media is fruitless.

There is a fervent urge to preserve this intimacy and possession over our favorite things, which is why we gatekeep. But there is indeed beauty in letting the world in on our little secret obsessions. We should learn to be open to the success of the things we enjoy and welcome anyone and everyone to enjoy whatever they like. Though it may be easy to gatekeep, it is even easier to let others celebrate something you love.